Actor, writer and comedian Louis C.K. was accused of sexual midsconduct by five women in a story published by the New York Times on Thursday. The planned New York premiere of his new film “I Love You, Daddy” was canceled and distributor The Orchard issued a statement saying it is giving “careful consideration” to its timing and release. (File photo by Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP) File)

“I Love You, Daddy,” the movie scheduled for release next week that comic Louis C.K. directed, scripted and stars in, abruptly had its Thursday night New York premiere canceled, as was a planned appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” shortly before a New York Times report was posted in which multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct.

Soon after, The Orchard, the film’s distributor, issued a statement declaring, “There is never a place for the behavior detailed in these allegations. As a result, we are giving careful consideration to the timing and release of the film and continuing to review the situation.”

On Friday, the Orchard announced it would no longer distribute the film.

Which means most people will never see the movie. Unlike “All the Money in the World,” which is going into reshoots to replace a handful of scenes previously featuring Kevin Spacey, who was recently accused of sexually predatory behavior, “I Love You, Daddy” is entirely built around C.K.’s character Glen, and would simply cease to exist if all of his scenes were excised.

Additionally, the film, which this writer has seen, revolves around successful TV series creator Glen’s discomfort over his 17-year-old daughter China’s (Chloe Grace Moretz) infatuation with a 58-year-old film director Leslie (John Malkovich), who is rumored to have pedophilic tendencies.

Beyond the overall ickiness of the concept, which is played for nervous laughs but taken with due seriousness by the characters throughout the movie, there are specific lines and gags that come uncomfortably close to reflecting sordid details in the Times article.

Most obvious among those are several scenes in which actor Charlie Day, playing Glen’s no-holds-barred comedian buddy Ralph, mimics vigorous masturbation with his clothes on, sometimes with a female co-worker of Glen’s in the room. The most serious accusations against C.K. involve him allegedly exposing himself and masturbating in front of women.

Glen is also accused of making a move on one of his daughter’s friends following a scene that is too subtly staged to judge whether or not that was his intention. It’s more or less forgotten after that.

Some aspects of the movie might trigger associations with other current Hollywood sex scandals, such as the extreme casting couch ploys numerous women have ascribed to producer Harvey Weinstein. For example, Glen gets the hots for pregnant actress Grace (Rose Byrne), who makes it clear she’ll do anything to work with him and, eventually, does. Though their relationship seems mutually consensual otherwise, the sex-for-jobs power dynamic of the situation plays off of the kind of show business conditions many feel have allowed predation in the industry to go on for so long.

And then there are some of those lines, some of which are delivered in more nuanced contexts than they appear more starkly here, but will probably have the same creepy effect if heard by audiences now.

“It’s what I’ve heard about you.”

“Only poor people are pedophiles.”

“Never think you can judge anybody on their private life. Though this is different.”

“Everybody’s a pervert.”

And after Glen has managed to anger China, Grace, an ex-wife, a more-or-less ex-girlfriend and a female colleague all at the same time, he just blurts out what C.K. may be saying for the rest of his life, whether or not his movie gets released or his career survives: “I’m sorry, women.”

Bob Straus has been covering film at the L.A. Daily News since 1989. He wouldn't say the movies have gotten worse in that time, but they do keep getting harder to love. Fortunately, he still loves them.

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